Hughes said that members of the Meeks family, co-founders of the park, have volunteered to help take care of the more than 300 animals. She said other volunteers who have experience with animals are also helping care for the animals.

Hughes said that the layoffs are due to the fact that the park did not meet its fundraising goals.

She said that the Holiday Lights Safari had higher attendance than in years past, but that didn’t make up the fundraising shortfall.

Hughes said during the same meeting that the board learned that executive director Kim Atchley had submitted her resignation.

Hughes said Atchley was not aware that the layoffs were coming, and that the layoffs and Atchley's resignation are not connected.

"I respect her tremendously as a person. She has done tremendous things. She has grown the park's exposure. People know about us," Hughes said. "The animals are the primary focus. Kim's legacy was three consecutive USDA reports that were clean. It is very important to the board that we continue with that legacy. That's why one of the reasons why, above all, it was the animals, the animals, the animals."

Atchley released the following statement about her resignation to WYFF News 4 Thursday afternoon:

"I chose to resign as executive director of Hollywild Animal Park on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. I came to the conclusion that I had offered all I could, personally and professionally, to the effort to move Hollywild forward. There simply has not been enough of the kinds of support, financial and organizational, to continue in my role as executive director. It is heartbreaking to me to know that I will not have the opportunity to finish what I started with the incredible team and vision we had created in the last year and a half. Please respect my grieving process by understanding that is all I am able to say."

The park is currently closed for the season, but it needs more financial support to reopen in the Spring as planned.

"We would appreciate corporate sponsorships, individual support. We want the park to be here. The park was designed to be an asset to this community; fun, family-friendly, educational, up close and personal with the animals . That's our primary goal, but in order to continue to do that we have to have the support of the community," Hughes said.

She said the board is looking at several options to meet the fundraising goal.

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